My school bus driver union (Teamsters) are not in anybody’s pocket but they still don’t do much for us. They did go to bat for our shop steward who was pulled over for DUI and blew a .32 and then was at work driving a bus full of kids three hours later. She was eventually fired but it took more than two weeks for the situation to be resolved. I’m very pro-union but the shit is not a panacea by any means.
I can speak firsthand that this is the case for Kroger in Illinois. Their unions fight to cap wages below living wage levels, pick some of the most expensive insurance on the market, and work with Kroger corporate to eat away your hourly rate with sliding payscales based on incredibly arbitrary criteria (overnight premium, but it only counts for 4 hours of a graveyard shift as an example that happened to me).
They are actually worse than not having a union, because then they could make more than $23 an hour in Chicago.
Oh, did I mention the union contract specifically prohibits strikes and any form of worker retaliation?
That does suck, and I have never been with a union where that isn’t a possibility. That’s one of the downsides whether or not they’re management’s tools. Top leadership tends to take care of itself first.
My union dues are 1.5%.
But, my union:
Makes sure I don’t have to take my work home with me.
Says when it’s ok to be contacted by work at home.
Got us a nice pay raise that more than covers any dues.
Makes sure any training events are monitored, correctly administered and can’t be used to get rid of employees.
Provides additional insurance that make up for shortfalls in employer coverage - particularly disability.
Substance abuse and mental health help so that you can get help and not lose your job.
And plenty more.
All of it worth more to the entire group than any pain from the dues I pay. Love being in a union shop, worth it even with the few downsides.
lucky. my union reps are in the pocket of management and don’t do shit for us.
My school bus driver union (Teamsters) are not in anybody’s pocket but they still don’t do much for us. They did go to bat for our shop steward who was pulled over for DUI and blew a .32 and then was at work driving a bus full of kids three hours later. She was eventually fired but it took more than two weeks for the situation to be resolved. I’m very pro-union but the shit is not a panacea by any means.
I have sadly heard this about many unions from the workers at Kroger and the Metro in Houston, TX particularly.
I can speak firsthand that this is the case for Kroger in Illinois. Their unions fight to cap wages below living wage levels, pick some of the most expensive insurance on the market, and work with Kroger corporate to eat away your hourly rate with sliding payscales based on incredibly arbitrary criteria (overnight premium, but it only counts for 4 hours of a graveyard shift as an example that happened to me).
They are actually worse than not having a union, because then they could make more than $23 an hour in Chicago.
Oh, did I mention the union contract specifically prohibits strikes and any form of worker retaliation?
Awful company.
That sounds ripe for a walk-out. Eveyone just GTFO and lets them shut down. All those perishables going to rot. Not much a job to leave either.
I think that’s called a wildcat strike.
Do it!
I assume that to be employed by Kroger you have to be in the union? Sounds like everything that can go wrong is going wrong.
Everyone except management.
It’s beyond fucked.
I’ve worked somewhere like that. Someone was having a disciplinary and the rep sat on the same side of the table as management.
That does suck, and I have never been with a union where that isn’t a possibility. That’s one of the downsides whether or not they’re management’s tools. Top leadership tends to take care of itself first.